2 Important Tips to Maximize APS’ 20-Year Grandfathering Promise

We’ve written extensively about the upcoming APS rate case and how it will impact future solar customers. But in two MAJOR ways, the new rate plans will also significantly impact existing APS solar customers.

The 20-year net metering grandfathering clause that APS has promised to all current solar customers, will be tied directly to your old APS solar plan. This means that whatever rate plan you are on when the new rates take effect (expected to be July 1, 2017), you must remain on to benefit from the 20-year grandfathering benefit.

This may sound like a big deal once you consider this: once the rate case vote happens, new rate plans will be rolled out, both solar and non-solar.  As a result, APS customers must be on their preferred rate plan, one that they are 100% happy with, at that time. Any changes made on or after the anticipated July 1, 2017 date will require homeowners to choose from one of the new rate plans while dropping to the new net-metering program with a grandfathering window of only ten years.

Tip 1: To maximize APS’ 20-year grandfathering benefit, make sure you are totally happy with your current solar rate plan before the proposed July 1, 2017 deadline.  

For our second tip, we have some good news. If you sell your home after the new APS rates are in effect, and the home you are selling is grandfathered into an older APS plan with 20-year grandfathering, the grandfathered plan will transfer to the new homeowner. So long as the new owners don’t change the rate plan, they can ride out the remainder of the 20 years and maximize their return. In this sense, going solar now, even if you may sell your home ten years from now, grants you a key market differentiator that can be used to market your solar home to potential buyers. 

Tip 2: Lock in your current APS solar plan and 20-year grandfathering today, and use that as a marketing tool when you sell your home down the road.

It’s important to note that the above tips only apply to customers who currently have solar or have signed a contract to add solar on file before APS’ proposed deadline of July 1, 2017.  Whatever rate plan you are on at that time is the one that will be grandfathered and tied to your home, regardless of owner, so long as the plan is not changed. 

The ACC is expected to vote on the APS Rate Case any day now. If approved, the plans are expected to be effective July 1, 2017.  If you’ve been considering solar, now is the time to act if you want to take full advantage of the solar grandfather clause and lock in today’s more favorable rates. 

If you have any questions about the APS rate case, request a free custom solar quote from one of our solar experts today.